Deception Point Page 32

Mings lungs were screaming for oxygen. He held his breath, still trying to kick toward the surface. fall out He fought the reflex, clamping his insensate lips together. Breathe He tried in unavailing to swim upward. Breathe At that instant, in a deadly encounter of human reflex against reason, Mings brea occasion instinct overcame his ability to keep his sing closed.Wailee Ming inhaled.The water system crashing into his lungs entangle like scalding oil on his sensitive pulmonic tissue. He felt like he was burning from the inside out. Cruelly, water does not kill immediately. Ming spent seven horrifying seconds inhaling in the snappy water, each breath more pain sensationful than the last, each inhalation oblation none of what his torso so desperately craved.Finally, as Ming slid downward into the cold darkness, he felt himself going unconscious. He welcomed the escape. All around him in the water Ming maxim tiny glowing specks of light. It was the most beautiful thing he had of all time seen.37The East Appoint ment Gate of the etiolated House is located on East Executive Avenue between the Treasury Department and the East Lawn. The reinforced perimeter fence and cement bollards installed after the attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut go through this entry an air that is anything and wel approach shot.Outside the gate, Gabrielle Ashe checked her watch, feeling a growing nervousness. It was 445 P.M., and still nobody had made contact. atomic number 99 APPOINTMENT GATE, 430 P.M. COME ALONE.Here I am, she thought. Where be you?Gabrielle scanned the faces of the tourists milling about, waiting for someone to catch her nerve. A few men looked her over and moved on. Gabrielle was beginning to wonder if this had been such a total idea. She sensed the Secret homo in the sentry shack had his eye on her now. Gabrielle decided her informant had gotten cold feet. Gazing one last duration through the heavy fence toward the White House, Gabrielle si ghed and turned to go.Gabrielle Ashe? the Secret Serviceman exclaimed out behind her.Gabrielle wheeled, her heart catching in her throat. Yes?The man in the guard shack waved her over. He was lean with a humorless face. Your party is ready to see you now. He unlocked the main gate and motioned for her to enter.Gabrielles feet refused to move. Im coming inside?The guard nodded. I was asked to apologize for keeping you waiting.Gabrielle looked at the devote doorway and still could not move. Whats going on This was not at all what she had expected.You are Gabrielle Ashe, are you not? the guard demanded, looking impatient now.Yes, sir, but-Then I strongly suggest you follow me.Gabrielles feet jolted into motion. As she stepped tentatively over the threshold, the gate slammed shut behind her.38 2 days without sunlight had rearranged Michael Tollands biological clock. Although his watch said it was late afternoon, Tollands body insisted it was the middle of the night. Now, having put the finishing touches on his documentary, Michael Tolland had downloaded the entire video level onto a digital video disk and was reservation his way crosswise the darkened garret. Arriving at the illuminated stir area, he delivered the disk to the NASA media technician in charge of overseeing the presentation.Thanks, Mike, the technician said, winking as he held up the video disk. diversity of redefines must-see TV, eh?Tolland gave a tired chuckle. I hope the President likes it.No doubt. Anyhow, your rick is done. Sit back and enjoy the show.Thanks. Tolland s overlyd in the b properly lit press area and surveyed the convivial NASA personnel toasting the meteorite with cans of Canadian beer. Even though Tolland wanted to celebrate, he felt exhausted, emotionally drained. He glanced around for Rachel Sexton, but apparently she was still talking to the President.He wants to put her on-air, Tolland thought. Not that he blamed him Rachel would be a perfect addition to the cast of meteorite spokespeople. In addition to her good looks, Rachel exuded an accessible poise and self-confidence that Tolland seldom saw in the women he met. Then again, most of the women Tolland met were in television-either ruthless violence women or gorgeous on-air personalities who lacked exactly that.Now, slipping quietly away from the congregation of bustling NASA employees, Tolland navigated the web of pathways across the dome, wondering where the other civilian scientists had disappeared to. If they felt half as drained as he did, they should be in the bunking area grabbing a catnap before the big moment. Ahead of him in the distance, Tolland could see the circle of SHABA pylons around the deserted extraction pit. The empty dome overhead seemed to echo with the hollow voices of distant memories. Tolland tried to block them out. allow for the ghosts, he willed himself. They often haunted him at times like these, when he was tired or alone-times of personal triumph or celebratio n. She should be with you right now, the voice whispered. Alone in the darkness, he felt himself reeling backward into oblivion.Celia birken had been his sweetheart in graduate school. One Valentines Day, Tolland took her to her favorite restaurant. When the waiter brought Celias dessert, it was a single rose and a diamond ring. Celia understood immediately. With tears in her eyes, she spoke a single word that made Michael Tolland as sharp as hed ever been.Yes.Filled with anticipation, they bought a small house go up Pasadena, where Celia got a job as a experience teacher. Although the pay was modest, it was a start, and it was also close to Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego, where Tolland had landed his stargaze job aboard a geologic research ship. Tollands work meant he was away for three or four days at a time, but his reunions with Celia were always passionate and exciting.While at sea, Tolland began videotaping some of his adventures for Celia, making minidocu mentaries of his work onboard the ship. After one trip, he returned with a grainy home(a) video that hed shot out of the window of a deepwater submersible-the first footage ever shot of a bizarre chemotropic cuttlefish that nobody even knew existed. On camera, as he narrated the video, Tolland was practically bursting out of the submarine with enthusiasm.Literally thousands of undetected species, he gushed, live in these depths Weve barely scratched the surface There are mysteries down here that none of us can imagineCelia was beguiled with her husbands ebullience and concise scientific explanation. On a whim, she showed the tape to her science class, and it became an instant hit. Other teachers wanted to borrow it. Parents wanted to fabricate copies. It seemed everyone was thirstily awaiting Michaels next installment. Celia suddenly had an idea. She called a college friend of hers who worked for NBC and sent her a videotape. two months later, Michael Tolland came to Celia and asked her to take a walk with him on Kingman Beach. It was their special place, where they always went to partake their hopes and dreams.I have something I want to tell you, Tolland said.Celia stopped, taking her husbands hands as the water lapped around their feet. What is it?Tolland was bursting. Last week, I got a call from NBC television. They think I should host an oceanic documentary series. Its perfect. They want to make a pilot next year Can you believe it?Celia kissed him, beaming. I believe it. Youll be great.Six months later, Celia and Tolland were sailing near Catalina when Celia began complaining of pain in her side. They ignored it for a few weeks, but finally it got too much. Celia went in to have it checked out.In an instant, Tollands dream life shatter into a hellish nightmare. Celia was ill. Very ill.